I JUST CALLED TO SAY (The Covid-19 Monologues/Elysium Theatre Company)*****

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sng2hPgYvE&t=4s  

Available until: Unknown

I Just Called to Say is a really emotional monologue and it only gets more emotional as you slowly work out what the situation is and what it means.

The main character is just called the Son. There’s someone he wants to be with right now. A lot has happened and there are issues still unresolved that might never be resolved but it’s not possible for them to be together. I think it’s because of the pandemic. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, maybe they would be together. Or maybe the distance makes it easier. Or maybe the pandemic has made the Son realise what’s really important to him.

The Son talks for 16 minutes. It’s really emotional and powerful and there’s so much to say and lots that seems to be under the surface. There’s a lot of sadness but there’s also a lot of anger because of something that happened as a result of a decision the other person made. There’s also a lot of fear. That was probably the emotion that led the Son to get in touch.

Director Jake Murray has done a brilliant job as he always does. I don’t know if I can say I loved the final image because it’s upsetting but it is also so powerful. Alex Townson is really amazing as the Son. The way he says the words, the way the emotions show on his face, he was so totally invested in his character and so was I. Alex makes the Son so vulnerable and open in ways that maybe he wouldn’t have been if the situation was different and it kind of hurts to watch him because of the pain he must be going through but at the same time, I didn’t want to look away because I didn’t want to miss a second of his performance.

I also really loved the other parts of his personality like his humour and his style and hearing about the thing he loves to do most in the world. Rani Moorthy’s writing gives us such a complete picture of a human being and you see it in Alex’s performance too.

This monologue is such a good example of great writing, great acting and great directing coming together to produce something which just totally floors you, it’s so good.